Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)

A unique herb, Rhodiola grows and thrives in dry, sandy areas of the Arctic areas of Europe and Asia. Soviet scientists have known about the native herb, particularly Rhodiola rosea, and have used it for conditions such as mental fatigue and to boost energy, along with other applications. Now that the Cold War is over, so are the barriers that have prevented us from gaining knowledge of the extraordinary benefits of Rhodiola in tinctures. News of the herb has spread around the world, and now the western scientists are taking a closer look at it. The new findings are the multiple physiological and psychological benefits, making it a powerful alternative herbal medicine for the stresses of modern life.

While the world today shows no signs of slowing down, you may want to bolster up your ability to respond to everyday stressors. Rhodiola rosea is an herb that has been traditionally used as an anti-fatigue agent and an adaptogen compound and is likely the second most popular adaptogen, a second only to Panax Ginseng.

Stress is almost inevitable and can have consequences on our physical and mental health. Research has suggested that Rhodiola rosea may offer a natural solution to overcoming many stress-related complaints. It does this by balancing the body's stress response system, which consists of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight), and parasympathetic nervous system that helps return the body to a relaxed state. Considered to be an adaptogen, the herb is used to strengthen the body's response to stressors. And is also believed to enhance the body's tolerance to stress by influencing key brain chemicals, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, and the body's natural feel-good opioids such as beta-endorphins. The herb's ability to provide both "cognitive stimulation" and "emotional calming," may lead to improvement in cognitive and memory function, as well as contributing to the long-term upkeep of brain function.

In one study of Rhodiola's effects on work capacity, researchers gave Rhodiola rosea tincture to participants such as students, physicians and scientists aged 19-46 years old for several days before intense intellectual work. The group found improvements in the amount of work and the quality of their work, and in all cases, the herb prevented a loss of work capacity because of fatigue. A series of detail-oriented tasks were performed with increased attention to detail and decreased the percentage of errors made particularly over an 8 hour period.

As well as enhancing memory, Rhodiola has also been shown to strengthen the body, making it more resilient to challenges of exercising or other tasks that may cause fatigue. In one intriguing report, healthy young adults were given 200 mg of Rhodiola rosea extract one hour before exercise and it significantly increased their endurance and physical stamina, as well as helping to protect tissue during exercise. It is believed to reduce levels of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker, and creatinine kinase, a muscle damage marker. It was given to Russian have used the herb for years to help people survive cold winters and high altitudes. Some believe that it has been kept as a little bit of a secret for the last 50 years.

In just the last couple of years, new evidence has revealed that it protect the nervous system against oxidative stress, enhancing healthy sleep, relieving anxiety and lifting those who are in a depressed mood. Its action on the nervous system against oxidative stress also helps to enhance healthy sleep and helps the body withstand the accumulating effects of stress and advancing age. "The dose-effect relationship is remarkable," noted the scientists.

Rhodiola rosea may even hold benefits for those who are challenged with elevated blood sugar or diabetes. According to new evidence, the herbal tincture helps to maintain blood sugars within a healthy range.

A study at the Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine in China revealed that the salidroside, an active constituent of the Rhodiola herb protects the body against oxidative stress in several ways, inducing several antioxidant enzymes. By protecting the cells this constituent could be useful for "treating or preventing neurodegenerative disease. It has been used successfully by Naturopaths for some patients with adrenal dysfunction, amenorrhea, mild depression, anxiety, and weight loss. In particular women in the perimenopausal stage of life with hormonal changes, may feel they have a loss of energy, and brain fog, as well as their libido, is down, and they may, at times get depressed. Of those who have used the herbal tincture, there was increased energy and mental clarity, and some even mentioned feeling sexier. As an added bonus, the increase of dopamine sensitivity in all who have used the herb showed an increase in the enjoyment of food, sex, and other good things. It also reduced carbohydrate craving and addictions.

In addition to these benefits, there is some indication that Rhodiola may potentially play a role as an aid for erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, or PE. Further studies are required in order to prove these claims, however.

Rhodiola rosea has been used as an alternative to ADHD pharmaceutical drugs for better kidney and liver health, and other complications that may occur. There is no potential for addiction or dependency with the use of this herb. Because it not only balance your physical state, but may give you the opportunity to work on your own mental and emotional responses to the world around you, creating healthy new neurological pathways.

Ingredients: Rhodiola rosea, Structured Water, 20% Alcohol.

Non-Alcohol: Rhodiola rosea, Structured Water, Vegetable Glycerin.

All of our ingredients are Certified Organic, Kosher, or Responsibly Wildcrafted. No genetically modified organisms (GMO's) are involved. All other products that are distributed by us meet our high-quality standards.

Contraindications: To avoid the side effects mentioned above, it is important to follow dosage recommendations exactly (typically a minimum of 100 mg daily and no more than 600 mg per day). rhodiola rosea plant imageThis is equivalent to 1-2 capsules or tablets per day. Dr. Patricia Gerbarg confirms this, stating that "most people need to start on a small dose of 100 mg and increase to a maximumof 400 mg (200 mg 30 minutes before breakfast plus 200 mg 30 minutes before lunch) over a period of 1-2 weeks." In other words, starting rhodiola at a higher dose tends to result in greater side effects because the body has not had time to become accustomed to the herb. However, some people display greater sensitivity to rhodiola and thus cannot tolerate a daily dose of more than 50-100 mg. Moreover, some people may require as high a dose as 600 mg per day. Its reputation for both fighting fatigue (stimulant) and relieving stress (relaxant) is reflected in the tendency of rhodiola to have a stimulating effect in low doses and a sedating effect in high doses. Although rhodiola is considered a low-toxicity herb--levels of toxicity are on average five times lower than those of panax ginseng, which is itself a low-toxicity herb-it can obviously endanger one's health when taken to excess. One should also consult with one's health care provider before beginning treatment with rhodiola or if one is already taking other supplements or medications.

Disclaimer: The information presented herein by New Way Herbs is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own healthcare provider.